All Weekend

Canstruction – Battery Park City
This annual display in the Winter Garden at the World Financial Center is one of our favorites, and the 2011 edition opens this Thursday. Come marvel at sculptures designed by architects, engineers, contractors and students that are constructed from full cans of food. Words can't do it justice! When the exhibition is dismantled all the cans will donated to City Harvest. Visitors are encouraged to donate cans of food for the charity, too. It's a wonderful way to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday season. FREE

Electricity Live – Brooklyn Heights
Head to the New York Transit Museum to check out its new exhibit ElectriCity: Powering New York’s Rails, and then watch as educators demonstrate the science behind the subway system. Saturday and Sunday only. Free with admission: $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 2-17, free for kids under 2.

Chocolate Show - New York – Flatiron District
Get rid of your boring leftover Halloween loot and hit this annual four-day event at the Metropolitan Pavilion for some really special sweets. Although I'm not a chocolate fanatic, I've been to the show a few times and it's really fun, with tons of tastings, cooking demos and even a kids' zone where little ones can make chocolate cupcakes, pasta and other delicacies. In advance: $30 for adults Thursday, Friday and Sunday, $35 for adults Saturday. $5 more at the door. Free for up to two children ages 5-12 with each paying adult. Free for kids under 5.

Perfect Catch: A Throw-Mantic Comedy – Tribeca
Raven took her six-year-old to see this juggling show last weekend and they both really loved it. A pair of lonely office workers silently bicker then bond over their shared love of juggling. Kids will love the routines--Raven's daughter's favorite bit was when the man juggled hoops from ear to ear (hard to imagine but seriously awesome), and parents will be charmed by the sweet story and soundtrack filled with old songs. Saturday and Sunday only. Brunch packages are also available. $20.

New York Historical Society Grand Reopening – Upper West Side
After a lengthy renovation, the New York Historical Society reopens Friday with a brand-new family attraction: the DiMenna Children's History Museum. (Look for our full review of this mini-museum next week.) The grand opening celebration happens both Friday and Saturday, with lots of family workshops and a chance to mingle with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, the Marquis de Lafayette and troops from the Revolutionary War. Free with admission: $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 7-13, free for kids under 7.

Eat Sleep Play Festival – Upper West Side
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s new permanent exhibit Eat Sleep Play opens this Friday. (We'll run our full review next week.) This interactive installation focuses on healthy living and this weekend there are a ton of fun activities to celebrate its debut. Kids can learn about proper food portions, navigate an obstacle course and meet local chef Bill Telepan. Free with admission: $11.

Puppets on Film – Fort Greene
This cool film festival kicks off at BAM Rose Cinemas on Saturday. The two weekend lineup curated by Cheryl Henson (the late Jim Henson’s daughter) features lots of great flicks, including two kid favorites this weekend: The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland with special guest Kevin Clash (the man behind the little red monster) and The Muppet Movie. $12 for adults, $9 for children.

Thain Family Forest Festival – the Bronx
Celebrate this magnificent forest at the New York Botanical Garden and learn about the upcoming restorations. Activities include canoeing the Bronx River, nature walks, tree climbing, poetry, live music and films. Saturday and Sunday only. Free with all-garden pass: $20 for adults, $8 for children.

2011 Quidditch World Cup – Randall's Island
Harry Potter fans won't want to miss this! One hundred college and high school teams will compete in this wizardly event complete with uniforms, capes and brooms (alas no flying). Other attractions include live music, circus sideshow performers, live owl demonstrations, vendors, food and lots of costumed super-fans. Saturday and Sunday only. Tickets are $5-$100.

The Orchestra: Happy Family – Upper East Side
The Little Orchestra Society presents a holiday-themed concert for young kids at the Kaye Playhouse. Bang, Buzz, Toot and Bow explain how the different sections of the orchestra work together to make music. Saturday and Sunday only. $15-$40

Brooklyn Navy Yard Visitors Center Grand Opening – Brooklyn Navy Yard
If you've ever wondered (as I have) what's inside the Brooklyn Navy Yard, you can finally see for yourself. On Veterans Day, the site is opening its doors to the public for the first time with a new visitors' center/museum, BLDG 92, featuring exhibits about the history and future of the yard, gallery space and a look at innovate new products designed by NYC college students. There will also be bike and bus tours of the complex. Admission to BLDG 92 is FREE; bus and bike tours are $30 and $25, respectively.

Friday, November 11

NYC Veterans Day Parade – Flatiron through East Midtown
You'll find me cheering on my son as he marches with his Cub Scout pack to celebrate our nation's brave military at this annual procession. The parade begins at Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street and proceeds uptown to 59th Street. FREE

See all Friday events.

Saturday, November 12

R & R Saturdays – Upper West Side
The free Saturday family fun continues at the JCC with storytelling, hula hooping, language workshops, art projects, indoor games and outdoor fun in the newly renovated rooftop playground, weather permitting. There are activities for parents too, like meditation and yoga. FREE

The Electric Company Experience – Jamaica
Head to the awesome Queen’s Library Discovery Center to celebrate The Electric Company. Activities include an interactive version of the popular PBS series, a visit from Shock, one of the show's stars, giveaways and more. FREE but tickets are required. Pick them up in advance at the center.

A Season of Thanks: A Children’s Holiday Workshop – Morningside Heights
The Cathedral Church of St. John of the Divine hosts this seasonal art workshop, in which kids can draw inspiration from a Thanksgiving tale and create corn husk dolls, pinched pots, turkey hats and other holiday crafts. $8 per adult-child pair.

ElectriCity with Kids Club Thirteen – Brooklyn Heights
Are you a member of Kids Club Thirteen? It certainly has its privileges, including free admission to 13 family events throughout the year. Today, Kids Club Thirteen members can head to the New York Transit Museum for a private tour of the museum’s new exhibit, ElectriCity, and enjoy special screenings and hands-on activities. Visit the Kids Club 13 website for a list of member benefits and info on how to join. FREE for Kids Club Thirteen members.

Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights Family Concert – Upper West Side
Kids love the grown-up sounds of this high-energy band, which rocks Symphony Space today. $20 for adults, $13 for children.

Family Day with Christmas Feet – Midtown West
Hit NYC's only no-cost ice-skating rink, the Pond at Bryant Park, for its annual family day. Maureen Sullivan will read from her book Christmas Feet, Bob Dorough (singer of Schoolhouse Rock's Conjunction Junction!) will entertain, and there will also be a holiday-themed pet fashion show and complimentary s’mores. Free skate rentals to the first 100 children under 13 who arrive. FREE

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, November 13

Met Life Second Sunday for Families – Corona
Head to the Queens Museum of Art to tour its current exhibit Another Detroit is Happening, and then create a stamp that will be featured in a collective mural. FREE

Ezra Jack Keats Family Day – Upper East Side
The Jewish Museum hosts an art-filled family day in honor of its The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats exhibit. Kids can enjoy drop-in collage workshops, Snowy Day-themed photo ops, live music by Aaron Nigel Smith, a communal mural project and self-guided tours. Free with admission: $12 for adults, free for children under 12.

235th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Washington – Fort Washington
Visitors can watch as members of the Brigade of the American Revolution set up camp at Fort Tryon Park and demonstrate how the Continental Army functioned during the period. There will also be other retro attractions, like a blacksmith, historic photographs and maps, a bagpiper, old-school arts and crafts, and historical characters. Experience living history! FREE

See all Sunday events.

Outside NYC

As of Friday, Freehold, New Jersey is home to iPlay America, a brand-new indoor amusement park loaded with laser tag, boardwalk amusements, bumper cars and other rides.

Catch the old-fashioned Squirm Burpee Circus and its amazing, retro contraptions at Long Island's Staller Center. We saw it last year at the New Victory Theater and think it's worth the trip!

Our Connecticut team is finally getting back to normal after those awful power outages last week. New to the site is a roundup of family-friendly art and history museums in Fairfield County.

Don't forget: We have additional activity options in our Event Calendar.

Planning an event? Submit it to our calendar.

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